Sizing John ‘needs luck’ to win Gold Cup

Jessica Harrington will take Sizing John to Cheltenham more in hope than expectation that her eight-year-old can emulate Festival legends such as Best Mate, Arkle and Golden Miller.

No horse has retained the Cheltenham Gold Cup since Best Mate completed his hat-trick in 2004 but bookmakers have Sizing John as a general 6-1 third favourite to join an illustrious club. That is despite the gelding failing to fire on his latest outing, on December 28, when he trailed in seventh at Leopardstown, 32 lengths off the pace.

Harrington, his trainer, who turned 71 this month, yesterday said that Sizing John had “overheated a bit” that day and that the race “probably just came a bit too soon” after he won at Punchestown 18 days before.

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